Overview
- The Ravens lost 24-17 to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday after multiple failures in pass protection, third-down defense and special teams that directly affected field position and scoring.
- Pro Football Focus rates Baltimore’s offensive line as the league’s worst in pass blocking, a shortfall that left Lamar Jackson under heavy pressure and forced quicker passing and stalled drives.
- Critics and insiders questioned Declan Doyle’s in-game choices, noting a shift away from running Derrick Henry in the second half and limited snaps for run-blocking tight end Durham Smythe despite his familiarity with Doyle.
- Special-teams miscues included a blocked 49-yard field goal and below-average punting that created an estimated swing of several points and made it harder for the offense to overcome mistakes.
- Despite the loss, underlying offensive metrics showed promise—higher offensive success rate, better yards per play, and superior rushing efficiency—leaving Week 3’s trip to Brazil as a near-term test of whether coaching tweaks and healthier personnel can fix the flaws.